Container for cigars



Jan. 24, 1933. R. E. PENT 1,395,258

v I CONTAINER FOR-CIGRS Filed oct. 1e. 1931 s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR: `ROBERT E. PENT Ne mmcaA A TTORNEY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

' Jan. 24, 1933. R. E. PENT CONTAINER FOR CIGARS:

Filed OCI.. 16. 1931 Jan. 24, 1933. R55, PENT CONTAINER FOR CIGARS Filed Oct. 16, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG, /4

INVENTOR. ROBERT E. PENT A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan. 2 4, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT E. PENT, F JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA CONTAINER FOR CIGARS i application mea octoberv 1s, 1931. serial nu. 569,151.

applicationv is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 509,393, filed January 17, 1931. This invention relates to containers for cigars and has as its object the production of a new and improved container of this type'. At'the present time cigars are generally packed for sale in quantities which are multiples of live. The most usual type is the box of fifty.

The Federal laws require that each of these boxes be sealed with a Governmentrevenue stamp of the proper amount so positioned that it will bebroken upon opening of the box.

The Federal laws further require that there appear upon the box the following three items (1)A caution notice (hereinafter more specifically set forth) (2) Classification indicia (hereinafter more specifically set forth); and (3) Zone indicia and quantity notice (hereinafter more specifically set forth).

The Federal laws further require` that when cigars in a box are retailed to a pluralgity of purchasers, each of whom buys some but not all of the cigars in the.box,

they must be kept in the box in which they'v Q0 were originally packed and must be oered for sale directly from the container. (The usual practice in the sale of cigars is for the v retail merchant to remove the box from the show-case and oier the box to a prospective purchaser who selects his cigar. The merchant then replaces the box in the show-case.) The above requirements of the Federal laws as-,to sale from the original `container makes it very difficult for the retailer to dis- 0 play his cigar in containers more attractive orhaving better humidifying qualities than the original box in which the cigars were received. If the merchant does use a container other than that-in which the cigars were received he must place the original con-` tainer along with its contents therein. Such a course is objectionable because a larger container must be used, resulting in the loss of valuable show-case space; because extra material must be used in making the outside container; and because the merchandising container as finally presented to the pros tive buyer is not perfect in appearance an often fails to have its intended effect of pleasing the eye.

lVith the advent of cellophane as a general packing agent, individual cigars have been wrapped in cellophane containers, then packed into standard boxes which were labeled and sold in the manner hereinabove outlined. Several packers have also placed cigars in multiples of five or ten in cellophane containers and packed these units into standard boxes which were labeled in the manner hereinabove outlined and thenosold in accordance with the requirements of the law as hereinabove outlined. These cellophane wrapped cigars were still subject to the condition requiring their sale from the original container and could not be transferred to another container for sale therefrom. V n

Government .revenue stamps are based, among other things, on the number of cigars in a unit. These stamps are sold to cover units of three (3), live (5), ten (10), twenty 75 (20), twenty-five (25), fifty (50) and one hundred (100) cigars. When it is remembered that cigars are usually sold in standard boxes containing fty (50) cigars it becornes obvious that itis impossible to wrap 80 cigars for sale in units of'three (3) to' a package (a number which an average purchaser often buys at one time) Without making a package in which only forty-eight (48) instead of fifty. (50) cigars are present, or 85 making a package in which there will be sixteen (16) units of three (3) cigars to a unit and tivo single cigars.

The first of thesepackages is not permissible and the second of these packages is objectionable. Federal regulations prohibit the sale of a box having less cigars than the number designated on the revenue stamp for that box.- If the cigars are so packed that. there will be two loose ci rs, a loss to the merchant will occur on t e loose cigars.

Similarly when cigars are packed in a standard box designated for twenty-live or one hundred, it is impossible to breakI them up into sales units in which there are three (3) cigars to a unit without either the loss of at least one cigar to the box, which results ina box which does not meet theFederal regulations and therefore cannot be sold, or the'` inclusion of at least one odd ci a'r in the box.

From the above it is obvious t at with pres- `ent packing methods it is impossible to pack cigars in units of three (a most desirable sales unit). without creating an unlawful package or some ultimate loss.

Another very pertinent objection to the' in vdividual cigars Whether presented for sale with or without cellophane or other equivalent transparent wra ping has been the fact that the butt end o the cigar was usually frayed as a result of wear in the purchasers pocket. Attempts have been made to oer individual cigars in special containerswhich were intended to eliminate this deleterious result. These attempts have not met with signal success, however, because of the fact that the protective wrappings are comparatively 'expensive and because of the further fact Yjects of this inventionfis to evolve a method l of packing cigars wherein it will be possible to transfer/the cigars from the original containers in which they were packed 1n the factory to a merchandising container in the retail store without in any way violating any of the Federal laws governingthe vending of cigars.

Another ob'ect of this invention is to provide a metho of packing cigars wherein it will be possible to vend cigars directly in smaller units than those which are on sale at the present time. f Y

Another object of this invention 'is to provide a method of packing cigars wherein it willv be possible to vend cigars directly in small desirable units of three (3) cigars to a Y Y Another object of this invention is to pro- Vduce a merchandising packet of cigars which will in and Vof'itself comply with all the Federal regulations governing the sale of cigars and which will in and of itself be a direct merchandisin unit.

Another. object of this invention is to pro-- duce a cigar packet which can be removed from the container in which'it was originally packed at the factory and offered for sale indicia and reinforcing stri as a unit from' some other container in the retail store.

Another object of this invention is to rov1de a cigar packet with protective rein orcing means which will havepthe dual function of protecting the cigars from fraying and serving to give the necessary notices required c1 ars. f

gAnother object of this invention is to pr vi de a cigar packet consisting of one or more cigars placed in lan envelope made of a ilexible, transparent substance, such as cellophane, with means which will give the necessary notices required by the Federal laws governing the sale of tobacco products but which will be inconspicuous so as not to in terfere with the viewing of the merchandise within the envelope and so as not to detract from the appearance of the packet. Y

Another object of this invention is to pro- `by the Federal laws governing the sale of duceja reinforcing means for a cigar packet Y which will b`e comparatively cheap and easy to manufacture, simple to assemble and which will not result in a bulky packet.

These as well as other objects of this invention and advantages arising therefrom will become more evident from the following description and drawings which form .a part thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved packet designed to hold three cigars. The closed position ofthe packv et is shown in full and dotted lines and the open position of the and dash lines. a

Figure 2 isa section along the line 2-,2 of Figure 1 taken immediately after the acket has been opened. The cigars and rein orcing strip have not been disturbed as yet. AsV far as the relative positions of the ci ars and the wi respect to the envelope and envelo e ap is concerned, the disclosure of this gure is exactly the same as that whjn the elements have been packet is shown by dot placed within the envelope during the .pack-' lng operation and the extended iiap is ready for turning and the envelpeis ready for sealing. The onl'y difference being that in .the latter case no revenue stamp would appear on the packet. The cigars in the acket are not shown in section slnce it is fe t that such a showing would tend to obscure the elements of invention being illustrated. j

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3--3 of Figure 1 showing both the full and open nis position of the packet, the open position being shown by dot and dash lines. The cigars rn .the packet are not shownin section slnce it 1s felt that such a showing would tend to obscure the elements of invention being illus-l trated.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the disclosure `of Figure 1. Y

-Figure is a side view, looking from the right, of the lower lportion of the packet shown in'Figure 1'. The upper portion 'of the packet, including its contents, has been reinforcing and Federal indicia carrying member.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of i Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a bor' packed with the novel packets herein disclosed. A portibn of the front of the box has been broken away for the purpose ofy clearness. Figure 10 is aperspectlve vlew o f a mod1- fication wherein the indicia-and-remforcing member is placed on the outside of the envelope so as to encompass the envelope member and its contents.

Figure 11 is a section-taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 10.. i

Figure 11-A is a fragmentary section taken along the line ll-A-of Figure 11.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modification showing a modified indicia-and-reinforcing member within the'envelope. The cigars have been omitted for the purpose of clearness.

Figure 13 lis a section along the line 131 of Figure 12.

-Figure 14 is a perspective view of another modification showing another type of modilied indicia and reinforcing strip within the envelope. The cigars have been omitted for the purpose of clearness.

Figure 15 is a section along the lines 15-15 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of still another modication showing anotherv type of indicia-and-reinforcing strip within the envelope.

Figure 17 is a section taken 17-17 of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of still analong the line other modied type ofvindicia-and-reinforcing strip. i Figure 19 is a section taken along the line 19-19 of Figure 18.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference numerals denote similar parts, reference numeral 1 indicates my improved package as a unit. The

ties of cellophane. The envelope 24 has a permanently sealed end 2, a temporarily sealed end 3 which terminates. in a closing and stamp contacting flap 4, `a front face 5,

a rear face 6 and left and right side faces 7 and 8 respectively.

The envelope shown is adapted to hold three cigars v17 of a certain size designed to be sold for a certain price.

The butt end of the cigars is protected by a U shaped cardboard indicia-and-reinforcing member 9. The indicia-and-reinforcing member 9 is wider than the cigars it is designated to protect (see Figure 3) and is composed of a bottom elementl 10, a right side member.11and a left side member 12.

The member 10 has printed or otherwise impressed on the outer face thereof the zone indicia and quantity notice 13 required by the Federal' regulations. This particular notice must give the factory number, its district and the number of cigars in the packet. In the specific case herein illustrated this v notice reads as follows :-l

Factory No. 23 3 1st Dist. of Pa.

appear too small and that to make views large enough to clearly show this indicia on ythe drawings would unnecessarily multiply the vnumber of sheets of drawing. This notice' has therefore been designated on the drawings by the words Zone indicia and quantity notice The member 11 has printed or otherwise impressed on the outside face thereof, indicia designated as the Caution notice 14. In the specific case herein illustrated this notice reads as follows Factory #23 1st Dist. State of. Pa. N otice-4 The manufacturer of the cigars herein con.- tained has complied with all the requirements of the law. Every person .is cautioned not to use either this package for cigars or the stamp thereon again, nor to remove the contents of this package with` out destroying said stamp under the penalties provided by law for such cases.

The member 12 has printed or otherwise impressed on the outer face thereof indicia designated as the Classification notice 15. In the specific case herein illustrated this notice reads as follows:

A`The cigars herein contained were manufactured to retail at not more than five cents each and are so tax paid.

The iap 4 at the openend of the ...envelope 24'is sealed by a revenue stamp 16 of the proper denomination. A cigar band 18 bearing cigar brand and other trade-mark or trade-name indicia is placed around theenvelope at its upper end if desired.

In Figure 7 is illustrated a modified indlcia-an -reinforcing member 19 in\which the element 20 is exactly the same as the element 1() of the member 9 and in which the elements 21and 22 differ from the elements 11 and 12 respectively of the member 9 only in the fact that themembers 21 and 22 terminate in a pointed member 23 whieh facilitates the insertion of the indicia'and `'stiifening member into the envelope. l

Although the assembly of the above disclosed packet and the packing of the packets in a container is believed to be obvious from the above disclosure yet to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding, the following detailed description is here given.

The operator starts with an envelope 24 permanently sealed at its end 2 'and o en at its 'end 3. The envelope is properly imensioned to receive a certain specific number of cigars which are to form a single unit. (In this particular illustration three cigars constitute the unit. But it must be remembered that the number of cigars in a packet may be varied from one cigar to any number makin a handy sales unit. The basic Structure o the packet, however, is the same no matter how many cigars the packet contains.) The operator places the number of cigars required (in this case three),- into each envelope with rounded end 25 first so that the rounded end of the cigars 17 will Contact with the closed end 2 ofthe envelope 24. The operator then inserts the indicia-and-reinforcing member into the packa e making it take the position.

shown by the ull lines in Figure 1 wherein the element 10 serves to stiifen the lower end of the packet 1 and rotects the butt end of the cigars 17 and t e elements 11 and 12 serve to stillen the sides 7 and'8 respectively of the packet 1 and to protect theA sides of the e.

the revenue stamp removed, by the full'lines representing the cigars 17, the indicia-and-re` inforcing member 9 and the envelope 24, and

.bythe dot and dash lines representing thelap 4 in itsextended or open position.)

The operator then applies the revenue stamp 16 in the position shown 1n Figures 1 and 3, thus securing the iiap in its closed position and sealing the envelope. The operator lnow takes the necessary numbei' ofpackets andpacks them in ,the c ontain' er to form the package as shown in Figure v9,.

wherein all the ackets but one appear as having been place in the container. (This disclosurev is exactly the same as that which would represent that point in the unpacking or vending of the packets where one packet has been removed for sale.) The container constitutes a legal sales uniti indiciaor in any other manner desired. The

container is delivered tothe retail merchant who may, if he desires, transfer the contents to a special sales receptacle without in any wayv violating the Federal regulations governing the sale of cigars since each packet It is to be noted that theindividual sales packets make not only for iiexibility in packing as toA individual containers for a group of packets but also for iexibility in packing and shipping `from the'nianufacturer to the retailer. Both of these results are' obtained because of the fact that the limit on the number of cigars in a box formerly fixed' by the revenue stamps appearing on the 'box has" been eliminated.

With the exceptionfof thexfactthat the v indicia-andfreinforcing member is placed on the outside of the packet so as-.to encompassthe same the disclosure of Figures 10 and 11 is exactlysimilartothat shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive and .Figures l8 and 9. ,Refer reference numeral lA'denotes the packet Aas a unit which is composedof an envelope 24A,

preferably made of cellophane lor some other transparent substanceh'aving the qualities of cellophane.

The envelope 24A, .-'lias apermanently vsealed 'end 2A, a tem orarily sealed end'A which terminates Ain t cyclosl* ing stamp contacting ap 4A'. The envelope as shown is adapted to hold` three ciy ars 17.

to be sold for a certain price. One en of the envelope is yencompassed and stiiened byfa U shaped cardboard indicia-alid-rein forcing member 9A. The member A9A is 'composed of a bottom element 10A, a right side member .11A anda left side member 12A. The zone indicia and quantity notice 13A,fthe caution notice 14A and the classification'noticel 15A l are printed or otherwise impressed upon the members 10A,"11A vand 12A respectively. f

The envelope is sealed with a revenue stamp 16A of the proper denomination. The ecn-v 'velope also has thereon. a cigar band (not shown 'since the portion carrying the saineA has been broken away) bearing trade-mark. or other trade-name indicia. The com one'ni:

elements v.oif't'he packet 1A set forth in, Ithis paragraph are exactly'vsimilar to those whichV are shown in the packet 1 disclosed in Figures 1 to 6 and 8 and 9 `and* for that reason not be moreparticularly described.

will v A It is to Abenotedl hat, the .indicia-and-reinforcing strip is so formed and placed as to the envelope is made of cellophane or similar L be inconspicuousand will not interfere with y a viewingof the-.contents `of the envelope if. Y

material.; lThis is obvious from an examnav s tion ofthe packet shown in the many modi. fications'herein described and from an examinati'on of the packets as they ap ar Ain a? n display boi; as shown in Figure 9. he qualring more particularly to Figures 10 and 11, 90" .i

ity of inconspicuousness is entirely due to the structure and particular position of the indicia bearing member and is entirely independent of the material of which the vindicia bearing member is made.

The disclosure of Figures 12 and 13 differs from that shown in Figure 1 only in the structure of the indicia-and-reinforcing member. Instead of a U shaped reinforcing strip 9 there is used a flat indicia-and-reinforcing strip 26 which extends over the entire facev of the packet as shown. The indicia-and-reinforcing strip 26 has inscribed on the outer face. thereof so as to be visible from the out- 4sidevof the packet the zone indicia notice 13, the caution notice 14 and the classification notice 15. These are shown by dotted lines in Figure 12. q t

The disclosure of Figures 14 and 15 differs from that shown in Figure 1 only in the structure of the indicia and reinforcing member. Instead of the U shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member 9 shown in Figure 1 a U shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member 9b is used.

The member 9?) differs from the member 9` only in the fact that it is formed to encompass the cigars on a face and two sides as shown, instead of ou an end and two sldes as shown by the member 9.' The zone indicia notice- 13 appears upon the element 13b, the caution notice 14 appears upon the element 145 and the classification notice 15 appears upon the element 15b. The notices are shown in dotted lines. It is obvious that these notices may all be placed upon one of the'elements 13b, 146 or 15b.

The disclosure of Figures land 17 differs from that of Figure 1 only in the structure of the indicia and reinforcing member. Instead of the U shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member shown in Figure 1, van L shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member 27 is used. The L shaped member is composed of a main face portion 28 and an end portion 29. The portion 28 contacts with and reinforces a face of the packet while the end portion 29contacts with and reinforces an end of the packet as shown. The zone indicia notice 13, the caution notice 14 appear upon the member 28, while the classification notice 15 appears upon the end portion 29 as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 16. It is obvious that all of these notices may appear upon the portion 28 or the portion 29 if space'permits in hthe manner illustrated upon the strip 26 in Figure 12 or that any one of the notices may be shifted to appear upon either the portion 28 or the member 29.

The disclosure of Figures 18 and 19 differs from the disclosure of Figure 16 and 17 only in the fact that the portion 29a of the indiciaand-reinforcing strip 27A is so placed as to contact with and reinforce a side instead of an end of the packet. The portion 28a is exactly similar to the portion 28. The zone Lacasse indicia notice 13, the caution notice 14 and the classification notice 15 are shown by dotted lines upon Vthe portions 28a and 29a.

The disclosure of Figures 1 to 19 is merel Villustrative of some of the many forms whic the indicia-carrying member may take.

addition, Vthe said indicia-carrying member may be Imade to take other forms without departing from the spirit of my invention, the essential feature f which liesin providing a cigar packetconsisting of one or more cigars packed' in a soft,.fiexible envelope with an independent strip which has inscribed thereon the indicia required by Federal regulations for making the packet a direct merchandising unit and which is so positioned on the said packet that the said r uired indicia is visible from the outside of t e packet.

To form a'packet which can be vended as I a direct merchandising unit it is not necessary that the indicia carrying strip be made of cardboard or other relatively stiff material. It may be made equivalent.

The quality' of inconspicuousness is due entirely to the structure and particular posiof very thinA paper or its tion of the indicia-carrying member and is wholly independent of the material of whichy the indicia 'hearinv member is made. Therefore to produce a packet wherein the indiciacarrying member is inconspicuous the indicia-carrying member need not be made of cardboard but may be made of relatively thin paper or its uivalent.

By the use o a comparatively stiff indiciacarrying member, such as a member made of cardboard, relatively stiff paper or its equivalent, a triple function is imparted to the stri viz:

' (1)- It adapts the packet for being vended as a unitary merchandising unit;

(2) It provides the packet with an indicia member which is inconspicuous; and

(3) It provides the packet with stiffening means. c

It is to be understood that my invention is not limi'ed to a structure 'such as a relatively stiff indicia-carrying member which meets all ofthe inependent objects of my invention but that it' may take a form wherein the indicia-carrying strip is made of relatively thin paper and wherein it meets only one 0r several of the independent objects of my invention.

Definitions (a) The words indicia-cin'- rying member as used in the specification and claims are usedto denote broadly the member 9 of the Government identifying indicia designated generally by reference numerals 13, 14 and 15 which appears thereon without any limitations as to the qualities ofv the material of which it is made--that is-it may be made of thin paper, or of cardboard, or of relatively sti' paper or the equivalent of any one of these materials.

A (b The words indicia-and-reinforcing mem r as used 1111v the specllication and claims are used to denote the indicia-carry- .ing member 9 and-the Goverment identifying indicia designated generally by refer- '15 classification notice hereinabove more fully'` described and designated by the reference numerals 13, ILandl respectively, or the equivalents-of the said notices.

o.. The above disclosure is to be understood as being by the way of illustration and not by the way of limitation since many Achanges may be made in the construction of the device herein disclosed withoutdepar'ting from thespirit ofmy` invention. For instance, 1n-

` 25 stead of using cellophane or some equivalent trans arent material for the envelope, any

. soft exible material -having the qualities -necessar to serve as a container for this purpose may used. This substance-may be fully :transparent Aas shown, or partially transparent so as toe ose the indicia appearing on the indicia-an -reinforcing strip 9, or it may, even be opa ue, in which case the indicia-and-reinforclng member 9 must be .pasted around the outside of the envelope: Envelopes which are `transparent only in 'part or which are opaque are not herein shown because they are well known in the envelope artand because in the light of this 49 disclosure any one. skilled inthe art could easily substitute such envelopes for the cellophane envelope in the novel combination disclosed in this invention: Or instead of having three cigars in the packet, as shown, the numbermay be decreased to two or one, or, increased to any number desired making a' handy sales unit. Some units known today are units of one,-ive and ten. The applicant cites these merely as illustrative of units which might be used but does notl limit himself to such units. However, no matter how many'or few cigars contained in the packet, its structure will be the same' as shown in Figures l to .19 inclusive. The only change in the envelope and the indicia-and-reinforcing strip which will be necessary is one of degree to vadapt the said envelope and indiciaand-reinforcingstrip for use in connection witheither a greater or lesser number of cigars, as vmay be desired, than the three shown: Or,'instead of making the indiciaand reinforcing member of cardboard, it may be ma'de of relatively sti paper or of any other substance-having the necessary qualities of lightness, stiffness and ability to have dising packet of Vcigars fully vmeeting the I statutory requirements consisting-of an envelope member made of soft, flexible material,

.- a plural number of cigars carried in said envelope, and an indicia-and-'reinforcing member associated with the said packet-and positioned for stiening the same, the said indicia-and-reinfforcing member havin the re- Vquired statutory indicia inscribed on e outer ace thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture a. merchandising packet of cigars not exceeding ten in number and fully meeting the statutory requirements, consisting of an envelope made of soft, transparent'. flexible material, a` plural number of cigars in the said envelope the said L number being equal to the number specilied Y on the revenue stamp to be used in association with the said packet, an indicia-and-reinforcing member associated with the said acket and positioned for encompassing, sti ening and reinforcing an end ofthe /said packet, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member having the required statutory indicia inscribed thereon; and a revenue stamp of the proper denomination sealing the said packet. 3. As an article of manufacture a merchandising packet of three cigars fully meeting the statutory requirements, consisting of anv envelope made transparent, thin, flexible material, the said envelope being permanently sealed at one end and temporarily sealed by a revenue stamp of proper amount at its other end, the said revenue stamp being positioned for being broken when the temporarily sealed end is opened for the purpose of removing the said cigars from the said envelope; and indicia-and-reinforcing member carriedby the said-envelope, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member being formedand positioned so as to encompass, protect and stillen the sidesV and an end of the said envelope, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member having the required statutory indicia inscribed on the outer face thereof.

l 4 As an article of manufacture a merchandising packet of three cigars fully Vmeeting the statutory requirements, consisting of an envelope made of transparent, thin, flexible .materiaL the said envelope being permanently sealed at one end and temporarily sealed by arevenue stamp of proper amount at its other end, the said revenue stamp being positioned for being broken when the temporarily sealed end is opened for the purpose of removing the said cigars from the said envelope; the said cigarsbeing positioned within the said envelope so that their rounded ends are adjacent to the said permanently sealed end of the said envelope and that their butt'ends are adjacent to the Vsaid temporarily sealed end of the said envelope; and a U shaped indiciaand-reinforcing member so positionedwithin the said envelope intermediate one of the said ends of the said cigarsand that end of the packet contiguous thereto as to encompass and protectA the said end of the said cigars and to stifen the said end of the said packet, the said indicia-and-rei'nforcing member having the required statutory indicia printed on the outer face thereof whereby the said indicia is visible through the said transparent envelope.

' material, the said envelope being permanently sealed at one end and temporarily sealed by a revenue stamp of proper amount at its other end. the said revenue stamp bemgpositioned for being broken when the temporarily sealed end is opened for the purpose of removing the said cigars from the said envelope; the said cigars being positioned Within the said envelope so that their rounded ends are adjacent to the said permanently sealed end of the said envelope and that their butt ends are adjacent to the said temporarily sealed end of the said envelope: and a U shaped cardboard indiciaand-reinforcing member. positioned Within the said envelope-intermediate the butt ends of the said cigars and the temporarily sealed ends of the said envelope with the U bottom member serving to reinforce and stillen the bottom of the packet and to protect the butt.

ends of the said cigars and with each of the U side members serving to reinforce and stiften one of the sides of the said envelope and to protect the side of the cigar contiguous thereto; the said U bottom member having the required statutory indicia and quantity notice inscribed on the outer face thereof, one of the said U side members havin the required statutory caution notice inscribed thereon, and the other of the said U side members have the required statutory classification notice inscribed thereon, whereby the said required statutory notices are visible through the said transparent envelope.

6. As an article of manufacture a cigar merchandising packet fully meeting the statutory requirements. consisting of an envelope -made'of transparent. flexible material,

A a revenue stamp of the proper denomination positioned on the said envelope for sealing the said envelope. a cigar carried Within the said envelope'.-and a U shaped indicia-andreinforcing member encompassing one'of the 'I0 statutory indicia inscribed on the outer face ,thereof whereby the said indicia. is visible through the said transparent envelope.

7'. As an article of manufacture a mer chandising cigar packet fully meeting the statutory requirements, consisting of an envelope of soft, flexible material, a revenue stamp of the proper denomination carried by the said envelope and positioned for sealing the said envelope, a cigar carried within the -said envelope, and an indicia-and-reinforcing member associated with the said envelope and positioned for stiifening the same, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member -having the required statutory indiciainscribed thereon so as to be visible from the outside of said envelope. l

8. As an article of manufacture a mercl1andising\-cigar packet'fully meeting the statutory.requirements, consisting of an envelope of soft, flexible material, a cigar crried Within the said envelope, and an indiciaand-reinforcing member associated with the said enyelope andvpositioned for stiffening the same, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member having the required statutory in dicia inscribed thereon so as to be visible from the outside o'f the envelope.

9. As an article of manufacture a merchandising packet of cigars, consisting of an envelope made of soft, flexible material, a revenue stamp of the certain denominationL positioned'n the said envelope for sealing the said envelope, a plural number of cigars carried within the said envelope, the said number of cigars being equal to the number specified on the said revenue stamp used in association with the said envelope and a U shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member associated with the said envelope and eneompassing one of the; ends of the said envelope for stiifening and reinforcing the said end of the said envelope, the said indicia-andreinforcing member having the required indicia, inscribed thereon so as to be visiblei Y from the outside of the envelope.

10. As an article of manufactureA a merchandising packet of cigars consisting of an envelope made of soft, flexible material, a revenue stamp of the proper denomination positioned on the said envelope for sealing the said envelope. a plural number of cigars A carried Within the said envelope, the said vnumber of cigars being equal to the number ,specified -on the said revenue stamp used -ln association with the said envelope, an in dicia-andreinforcing member associated with the said envelope and positioned for stiiening and reinforcing the said envelope,

the said indicia-and-reinforcing member said envelope, a revenue stamp of a denomination equal to the number of cigars within the said envelope positioned on the `said envelope for sealing the said envelope, and an independent indicia-carrying member posiltioned Within the said envelope intermediate the inner surface of the said envelope and the said cigars, the said indicia-carrying In ber having the required statutory indicia 1 ibed thereon so as to be visible from the outside of the'said envelope. 4

12. As an article of manufactureV a merchandising packet of cigars fully meeting the statutory requirements consisting of an envelope made of transparent, iiexible material, one or more cigars carried within the said envelope, a revenue stamp of a denomination equal to the number of cigars within the said envelope positioned on said envelope for. sealing the said envelope, and an L shaped independent indicia-carrying mem ber positioned within the said envelope intermediate the inner surface of the said envelope and the said cigars, the said indiciacarrying member having the required statutory indicia inscribed thereon so as to be visible from the outside of the said envelope.

13As an article of manufacture amerchandising packet of cigars fully meeting the statutory requirements consisting of an envelope made of softflexible, transparent material, one or more cigars carried within thev sa1d envelope, a revenue stamp of a denomlnation equal to the number of cigars ,within the said envelope positioned on, said envelope for sealing the said envelope, and` an independent U shaped indicia-carrying member positioned within said envelo e intermediate the inner surface of the sald envelope andl the said cigars along an end and two sides vof the said envelope, the said indicia-carrying member having the required the said envelope intermediate the inner surface of the said envelope and the s aid cigars so as to contact with an end and two narrow sides of the said'envelope, the said indiciacarrying member having the required statutory indicia inscribed on the outer face there of so as to be visible from the outside of the said envelope.

15. As an article of manufacture a merchandising packet of cigars consisting of an envelope made of soft, flexible material, a revenue stamp of a certain demonination positioned on the said envelope for sealing the said envelope, plural number of cigars carriedvwithin the said envelope, the said number of ci ars being equal to the number specified on tie said revenue stamp used in association with the said envelope, and a U shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member associated with the said envelope and positioned for stiiening 'and reinforcing the said envelope, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member having the required statutory indicia inscribed thereon so as to be visible from the outside of the said envelope. Y

16. As an article of manufacture a merchandising packet of cigars consisting of an envelope made of soft, iexible material, a revenue stamp of a certain demonination positioned on the said envelope for sealing the said envelope, a plural number of cigars -carried within the said envelope, the said number of cigars being equal to the number specified on the said revenue stamp used in association with the said envelope, and an L shaped indicia-and-reinforcing member associated with the said envelope and positioned for stitfening and reinforcing the said envelope, the said indicia-and-reinforcing member having the required statutory indicia inscribed thereon so as to be visible from the outside of the said envelope. l

In testimony whereof I hereby aix my signature. Y

ROBERT E. PENT.j

statutory indicia inscribed thereon so as to be visible from the outside of the said envelope. L 14. As an article of manufacture a merchandising packet of, cigars fully meeting the statutory requirements consisting of an f envelope made of sot,iiexible, transparent material and having sides which Aare narrower lthan its faces, one or more cigars carried within the vsaid envelope, a revenue stamp of a denomination equal to the number of cigars within the said envelope positioned on'V the said envelope for sealing the said envelope, and an independent U shapeindicia-carrying member positioned wit 

